Adding-machine.



No. 68!,240. Patonted Aug. 27, I90l. A. J. MEYER.

ADDING MACHINE.

Applicatxon filed Oct. 13, 1900.) (lo Nodal.) 2 Shuts-Shoe! I.

I I r we ma I I "Info, morouwa, \vuumavon. n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALFRED .I. MEYER, OF MILWAUKEE, VISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR. OF ONE- FOURTII TOALVIN WV. KRAI-IN, OF SAME PLACE.

ADDING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 681,240, dated August27, 1901.

Application filed October 13, 1900. Serial No. 33,017. No model.)

To (tZZ who/2t it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED J. MEYER,a citizen of the United States,residing at Milwaukee, county of Milwaukee, and State of Wisconsin, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Registering and ComputingMachines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in registering and computingmachines.

The objects of my invention are, first, to provide a simple andinexpensive means for securing differential movements from a series ofkeys each of which is actuated with equal pressure and a uniform stroke,and, second, to provide an automatic mechanism actuated from anindependent source of power for imparting a step-by-step movement fromone registering-wheel to another, the latter being actuated one step foreach revolution of the former and said movement occurring in theintervals between the key movements, whereby the operation of carryingfrom units to tens, &c., will take place without interference with themovements imparted through the medium of the keys and without increasingthe power necessary to be applied to the latter.

In the following description reference is had to the accompanyingdrawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of my invention with thecasin g partially broken away to show the interior mechanism. Fig. 2 isa detail sectional view of the counting and registering wheels. Fig. 3is a side view of the pawland-ratchet mechanism for imparting motionfrom a counting-wheel to its corresponding registering-wheel. Fig. 4 isa front view in detail of the trip mechanism. Fig. 5 is a top view ofone section of the same. Fig. 6 is a top view of a pair ofdiiferentiating-levers. Fig. 7 is a vertical longitudinal sectional viewof the entire machine. Fig. 8 is a cross-sec tional view drawn on .lineX X of Fig. 7.

Like parts are identified by the same reference characters throughoutthe several views.

The countingwheels A and registeringwheels I3 are arranged in sets, asbest shown in Fig. 2, the registering-wheel being provided with aratchet b, in which a pawl 01., mounted on the counting-wheel, isadapted to engage. In the construction shown there are three sets ofthese wheels, each set being arranged to be actuated from anyone of alongitudinal row of keys on the keyboard of the machine. The row of keys0 at the right hand in Fig. 1 are used for registering units, beingconnected with the right-hand counting and registering wheels. Theadjacent row of keys C represent tens, while the next row of keys wouldrepresent hundreds, the. Motionis communicated, Fig. 7, from any one ofa series or row of keys to its correspond ing counting-wheel through thekey-stem D, the elbow-lever E, connected therewith, sliding bar F,sector-lever G, toothed sector g, and pinion H, the latter being fast onthe counting-wheel. A corresponding motion is simultaneouslycommunicatedfromthecounting-wheel to the registering-wheel through the pawl a andratchet b. It will be observed that an elbow-lever is connected witheach key of the row or series, the levers being pivotally secured ate toa flange e, depending from the inclosed cover I of the machine. Theupper arms of the elbow levers are of uniform length throughout theseries, while the lower arms are of graduated or increasing length,beginning with the shortest arm at the forward or lower end of theseries, which is connected with the units-key, and ending with thelongest arm at the upper or rear end of the series, which is connectedwith the key bearing the number 9. These elbow-levers are looselyengaged at their lower ends in an open slot or recessfin the bar F andare arranged to abut against a shoulder f, whereby the bar may beactuated by any one of the elbow-levers without communicating motion toany of the other levers. If desired, each alternate lever may be oifsetat its lower end, as shown at E in Fig. 8, the recessesfin the bar Fbeing in such case located alternately on opposite sides of the bar, asshown in Fig. 1, thus allowing for a stroke of such bar longer than thespace between any two adjacent 1evers without communicating motion fromone to the other. The downward-projecting arms of the levers E may, ifdesired, be made in exact proportion to the required length of str0ke'i.8., the arm of the second lever may be twice as long as the first andthat of the third lever three times as long as the first, &c.in whichcase the upper arms ofthe levers may all be made of equal length, andthe keys connected thereto may also have an equal stroke orlength ofmovement. Set-screws J are used to limit the downward stroke of theelbowlevers and keys, and springs J, connecting the upper arms of theelbow-levers with the cover I, are arranged to equalize the pressurerequired to actuate the keys. In the drawings these springs are locatedat suc cessively-decreased distances from the leverfulcrums, beginningwith the units-lever at the front end of each series and ending with the9 lever at the rearor inner end of the series. They are also graduatedin length, the shortest spring being at the front and the longest at therear end of the series. It will be understood, however, that any othermeans for applying a resistance to the movement of the levers in inverseproportion to the motion transmitted by them to the bar]? will be withinthe scope of this portion of my invention.

It will be observed that the lever G is fulcrumed at a point G below itscenter,whereby the movement of the keys and elbow-levers is not onlymultiplied in the sector g and counting-wheel, but the differential orincreased movement caused by one elbow-lever over another is alsomultiplied, thus enabling me with a short movement of the keys and aslight diiference in the length of the lower arm of the elbow-levers tosecure not only the desired movement of the countingwheel, but also asuflicient difierence of movement as imparted by the differentelbowlevers to move the counting-wheel the desired distance in eachcase. It will of course be understood that both the counting andregistering wheels are provided with peripheral numbers ranging from 0to 9, inclusive, as is customary in adding and registeringmachines.

With the construction shown it is obvious that the movement of any keymay be communicated to move the counting-wheel adistance equal to theperipheral distance on said wheel between the 0 point and the numbercorresponding with the number of the actuated key. The 0 point of thecountingwheel is preferably located underneath the sightglass L, so thata number on the countingwheel corresponding with the number of theactuated key will appear underneath the sight-glass as soon as the keyis struck, thus enabling the user to verify the work. When the key isreleased from downward pressure,

cated in the rear of each registering-wheel, except that occupying theunits position.

M is an armature suitably supported bya bar N, which is slidably mountedin framebearings m. This bar N is provided with a spring-catch 0 nearits free end, which is adapted when the armature is attracted by themagnet to yield sufficiently to permit its being drawn underneath alatch-bar P. This latch-bar P is provided with notches P and is normallyheld, by means of a spring Q, with the notches in a position of registrywith the spring-catches O, the notches being of such depth that thecatches O are free to move through them in either direction withoutengaging the bar. The bar P is, however, provided with arms R,projecting rearwardly and in the path of the levers G, the free end ofeach bar being offset at R and passing in close proximity to one side ofits correspond= ing lever G. The offset portion R presents an angularsurface in the path of the lever G, so that when the latter is actuatedit engages the surface of the portion R and forces 'the bar R andlatch-bar P laterally, so that the notches P are out of registry withthe catch 0. Assuming that the magnet be then energized, the movement ofthe armature attracted thereby will draw the bar N forwardly, the catch0 yielding to pass under the bar P, which will then engage the verticalface of the catch and prevent the retraction of the bar N and armatureuntil allthe levers G are again in their normal positions, when thespring Q will restore the bar P to its normal position, and the bar N,with the armature, will then be retracted by means of a spring S, thecatch 0 being permitted to pass through the notch P in registrytherewith. It is therefore obvious that while the armature of any magnetmay be attracted at any time during the forward movement of any one orall of the levers G the return movement of the armature will not takeplace until all the levers G are returned to their normal positions.

It will be observed that the bar N is provided with a pawl n, adapted tobe held bya spring '1 in engagement with a ratchet-wheel b, which isrigidly attached to one face of each registry-wheel; When the armature Mis attracted by the magnet, this pawl is drawn rearwardly and engages inthe next succeeding notch of the ratchet-wheel, so that when thearmature 'is retracted through the medium of the spring S after thelatch-bar P has been permitted to resume its normal position the pawl 01will move the ratchet-wheel b and its corresponding registering-wheelone step, and as the distance between the teeth of the ratchet-wheelcorresponds with the distance between the numbers on theregistering-wheel it is evident that such registeringwheel will havebeen advanced one number.

U represents batteries for energizing the electromagnets, one batterybeing preferably provided for each magnet. Each of the reg istering-wheels is provided with a pin V,which is arranged for contact with aspring-electrode V as the registering-wheel completes its revolution.The electrode V is depressed by the pin into contact with an electrode Wof opposite polarity, whereby the circuit of one of the batteries isclosed through the magnet M pertaining to the next succeedingregistering-wheel, the magnet being thus energized to attract itsarmature and actuate the trip mechanism connected therewith, as aboveexplained. The electrode V being of spring metal, it will yieldsufliciently to permit the pin V to pass, whereupon the electrode V willreturn to its normal position out of contact with the electrode \V, thusbreaking the circuit and denergizing the magnet.

Reviewing the operation of the device and assuming that the number 666has been registered and that it is desired to add the number 896thereto, the operation will be as follows: The key bearing the number 6in the units column or series at the right hand, as shown in thedrawings, is selected, together with the key bearing the number 9 in thetens-column and the key bearing the number 8 in the hundreds-column.\Vhen the key bearing the number 6 in the units-column is struck, motionwill be communicated through its respective elbow-lever, the bar F, andthe intervening connections to rotate both the counting-wheel andregistering-wheel six steps-t'. c., a distance equal to the spaceoccupied by six of the numbers on its peripheryand as the counting-wheelstarts at 0 it will of course be rotated to exhibit the number 6, whilethe registering-wheel, starting at G, (the amount of the previousrcgis'rry,) will be rotated to exhibit the number 2." Similarly thecountingwheel pertaining to the tens-column will be actuated by pressureupon the key bearing the number 9 to exhibit the peripheral number 9under the sight-glass L, while its corresponding registering-wheel willbe advanced nine steps beyond the number 6 and will exhibit the number5. The key bearing the number 8 in the units-column will likewisecommunicate motion to rotate its corresponding counting-wheel to exhibitthe number 8, while the registering-wheel actuated thereby will exhibitthe number 4. As the registering-wheels in each case have been caused torevolve beyond the O point, it is obvious that the pin V of eachregistering-wheel will have engaged its corresponding contact-arm of theelectromagnet pertaining to the next succeeding registering-wheel, thussetting the trip mechanism of the wheels representing the tens,hundreds, and thousands columns, respectively, through the medium of thearmatures of said magnets. As soon as the pressure is removed from thethree keys struck the levers G of each column will be restored to theirnormal positions by means of the spring K retracting the bar F,whereupon the latch-bar P will also be retracted by the spring Qbringing the notches P into registry with the catches 0, when thearmature-bars N will be retracted with the armatures of each of theelectromagnets and each of the registering-wheels from the tens-colu mnupward will be advanced one step. It is obviousthat the same result willbe obtained whether the keys representing the number 896, as aboveexplained, are struck simultaneously or independently, and ifindependently the result will be attained regardless of the order inwhich the keys are struck, inasmuch as the carrying is accomplishedindependently and after the keys have been restored to their normalpositions.

If desired, a record of the various transactions may be printed byattaching any ordinary form of printing mechanism to the ap paratusshown and described; but as such printing mechanism is common to nearlyall adding-machines no further description or illustration of the sameis necessary.

The inclosing case is formed with the base portion X and a cover I. Thekeys and elbow-levers are supported from the cover I, while theremainder of the machine is supported from the base. I am thereforeenabled to remove the cover I at pleasure, as there are no fixedconnections between the elbowlevers and bar F. \Vhen the cover is thusremoved, all portions of the machine are easily reached without furtherseparation of the parts.

While I have illustrated a three-column machine with fourregistering-wheels, it will be understood that any number of columns andwheels may be employed. The last registeringwheel is readjusted to 0position by a rack Y and pinion Z. The other wheels may be adjusted byoperating the keys.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and wish tosecure by Letters Patent, is

l. The combination with suitable registering-wheels; a series ofelbow-levers having alined pivotal fulcrums, with offset overlappingarms of equal length, and other arms graduated in length throughout theseries; alined keys secured to the ends of the ofiset arms; a slidingbar adapted to be engaged and independently actuated by each of saidlevers; a connecting-lever, having arms of unequal length, with itsshorter arm attached to said sliding bar; and motion-transmittinggearing connecting the longer arm of said lever with aregistering-wheel, whereby the motion of the key-lever and bar ismultiplied or increased by the connecting-lever.

2. The combination with suitable registering-wheels; a series ofelbow-levers having alined pivotal fulcru ms with oifset overlapping rmsof equal length throughout the series; equalizing-springs attached tothe arms of said levers at unequal distances from the fulcrurns, andconnected with fixed points of support; and motion transmitting andmultiplying mechanism connecting said graduated arms with one of theregistering-wheels.

3. The combination with a series of regiscoring-Wheels; aseries ofdifferentiated actuating-levers and motion-transmitting connections foreach Wheel; trip mechanism for advancing said registering-wheels step bystep; means for setting the trip mechanism of one registering-wheel froman adjacent wheel; and trip-holding devices supported by the tripmechanism in a position to be engaged and held by themotion-transmitting connections when the trip is set, and saidconnections are out of normal position of rest.

4. The combination with suitable registerin g-wheels; a series oflevers, each provided with an arm difiering in length from those of anyother lever in the series; suitable connections for communicating motionfrom any one of said levers to the registering-wheels; and means forapplying a resistance to the movement of the levers, in inverse ratio tothe length of the arms, whereby the pressure required to actuate thelevers is equalized.

5. The combination with a series of registering-wheels a series of keysfor each wheel; means for communicating motion from any of the keys toits corresponding registeringwheel; independently-actuated tripmechanisms for advancing said registering-wheels step by step; means forsetting the trip mechanism of one registering-Wheel from an adjacentwheel, and means, controlled by the keys, for holding said tripmechanism and releasing the same on completion of the keystroke in twodirections.

6. The combination with a series of registering-wheels; a series ofprimary actuating connections for each wheel; trip mechanism foradditionally advancing said wheels step by step; means, controlled byone wheel, for setting the trip mechanism of an adjacent wheel; andmeans controlled by the primary actuating connections of all the wheelsfor preventing the release of said trip mechanism until said primaryconnections are all substantially in normal position.

7. The combination with a series of registering-wheels; a series ofprimary actuating connections for each Wheel; trip mechanisms foradditionally advancing said wheels step by step; electromagnetic meansfor setting said trip mechanisms; means, controlled by oneregistering-wheel, for closing an electric circuit through anelectromagnet pertaining to the trip mechanism of an adjacent wheel; andmeans controlled by said primary actuating connections, for regulatingthe movement of the trip mechanisms in one direction.

8. The combination with aseries of registering-wheels; a series ofcounting-wheels, arranged to communicate motion in one direction to theregistering-Wheels; a graduated series of levers for eachcounting-wheel; a movable bar for each series of levers, and adapted tobe actuated by any one of said levers; and a connecting-lever secured tosaid movable bar, and having motion-trans.- mitting connections with thecounting-wheel.

9. The combination with a series of regis' tering-wheels; a series ofcounting-wheels, arranged to communicate motion in one direction to theregistering-wheels; a graduated series of levers for eachcounting-wheel; a sliding bar for each series of lovers, and adapted tobe actuated by any one of said levers and a connecting-lever secured tosaid sliding bar, and having gear connections with the counting-wheel;together with a series of trip mechanisms adapted to advance therespective registering wheels step by step; means for setting the tripmechanisms for one wheel from an adjacent wheel, and means, controlledby the connecting-levers, for regulating the movement of the tripmechanisms.

10. The combination with registeringwheels, adapted to be actuatedindepend ently; of electromagnetic mechanism for communicating movementfrom one wheel to another, at predetermined-distance intervals, andmeans for limiting such movement to the intervals between theindependent wheel movements.

11. The combination with registeringwheels adapted to be actuatedindependently; of means for mechanically actuating said wheels eithersimultaneously or separately; electromagnetic mechanism forcommunicating movement from one wheel to another atpredetermined-distance intervals; and means for limiting such movementto the intervals between the independent wheel movement. I

12. The combination with registeringwheels adapted to be actuatedindependently; of means foractuating the same, either simultaneously orseparately; a trip mechanism for advancing said registering-wheels stepby step; electromagnetic means, controlled by one registering-wheel, forsetting the trip mechanism of an adjacent wheel, together with means forreleasing the trip mechanism.

13. The combination with registeringwheels, of means for manuallyactuating the same; ratchet-wheels connected with theregistering-wheels; a spring-retracted bar, provided with aspring-actuated pawl adapted to engage the ratchet of each wheel; anelastic catch secured to said bar; a latch-bar arranged transversely ofthe pawl-supporting bars in the path of the catches, and provided withnotches, adapted, when in registry with said catches, to permit thepassage of the latter in either direction; means, controlled by oneregistry-wheel, for actuating the pawlsupporting bar of an adjacentwheel against the tension of its retraction-spring; and means forshifting the latch-bar to retain or release the catches.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

ALFRED J. MEYER.

Witnesses:

JAS. B. ERWIN, LEVERETT 0. WHEELER.

